The Haunted Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs

Perched majestically atop West Mountain, overlooking the charming Victorian village of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, stands the historic 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa. This grand, 78-room resort is renowned not only as one of America’s most distinctive and historic destinations but also for its numerous spectral residents who are said to roam its elegant halls and expansive grounds. The story of The Haunted Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs is a tapestry woven with threads of opulent beginnings, tragic declines, and persistent paranormal activity.

The story begins with ambition and the allure of healing waters. During the late 19th century, Eureka Springs was a boomtown, drawing visitors from across the nation seeking the purported curative properties of its natural springs. Recognizing this burgeoning market, the Eureka Springs Improvement Company, in partnership with the Frisco Railroad, envisioned a resort that would surpass all others in luxury and grandeur.

The architectural design was entrusted to Isaac L. Taylor, a prominent Missouri architect known for his work in St. Louis. Taylor selected a 27-acre site on the northern edge of West Mountain, a location that afforded breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding valley. The location of The Haunted Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs was carefully chosen.

Construction commenced in 1884, employing skilled stonemasons brought from Ireland. The hotel’s construction was a feat of engineering. The dense magnesium limestone used for the walls required the creation of special wagons to transport the massive stones from the White River quarry. The masons crafted 18-inch thick walls, multiple towers, overhanging balconies, and a massive stone fireplace in the lobby, all reflecting an eclectic blend of architectural styles.

Over the next two years, the construction project grew, incorporating state-of-the-art amenities for the era. Electrical lighting, modern plumbing, steam heating, an elevator, and meticulously landscaped grounds were all integrated into the design. The interior was adorned with luxurious decorations and furnishings. The total cost of the project reached an astounding $294,000, a testament to the extravagance of the vision.

The grand opening of the Crescent Hotel on May 20, 1886, was a celebrated event. The local Eureka Springs Times Echo hailed it as "America’s most luxurious resort hotel." Notables from across the country attended the gala, which featured a ball, a full orchestra, and a lavish banquet dinner for 400 guests. The Haunted Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs had opened its doors.

The hotel boasted large, airy rooms with exquisite furnishings and a dining room capable of seating over 500 people. Outdoor amenities included a swimming pool, tennis courts, croquet lawns, flower gardens, winding boardwalks, and charming gazebos. Liveried footmen greeted guests at the Frisco depot, transporting them to the opulent inn. Guests could enjoy the healing waters of the spa, horseback riding with a stable of 100 horses, afternoon tea dances, and elaborate evening parties with a full in-house orchestra.

However, the hotel’s prosperity was not to last. By the turn of the century, the allure of the "healing waters" began to fade as people realized that they didn’t possess the curative powers that had been advertised. The popularity of Eureka Springs waned, and the Crescent Hotel experienced a decline in patronage.

From 1908 to 1924, the building was repurposed as the Crescent College and Conservatory for Young Women, while still operating as a summer resort. However, tuition fees and summer guest revenues proved insufficient to cover the costs of maintaining the expansive building. The Women’s College closed, and the hotel sat abandoned for six years before briefly reopening as a junior college from 1930 to 1934.

The darkest chapter in the hotel’s history began in 1937 with the arrival of Norman Baker. Baker purchased the aging hotel and transformed it into a cancer hospital and health resort. He advertised "miracle cures" that required neither surgery nor painful tests, promising patients that they would leave the resort cancer-free.

In reality, Baker was a charlatan with no medical training. He had been convicted in Iowa in 1936 for practicing medicine without a license, and the American Medical Association had condemned his elixirs. While operating the "hospital," Baker was under investigation by federal authorities for mail fraud. In 1939, he was arrested and convicted.

The investigation revealed that Baker had defrauded cancer patients out of approximately $4,000,000 over the years. While his "cures" did not directly cause deaths, his treatments likely hastened the demise of those who did not receive effective medical care. Baker was sentenced to four years in Leavenworth. After his release in 1944, he moved to Florida and lived comfortably until his death in 1958. The Haunted Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs carries the shadows of this dark period.

During the war years of 1940 to 1946, the Crescent Hotel once again stood empty. In 1946, four Chicago businessmen purchased the hotel and began restoring it to its former elegance. While it never quite regained the grandeur of its early days, the hotel began to thrive again. Tragedy struck in 1967 when a fire swept through the fourth floor of the south wing, causing extensive damage.

Over the next several years, the hotel changed hands multiple times as repairs and further restorations were made. However, it never fully recovered its original splendor until 1997 when Marty and Elise Roenigk purchased the historic inn. The couple pledged to restore the "Grand Lady of The Ozarks" to its former glory within five years.

The Roenigks began by rebuilding the spas and opening a 6,500 square-foot "New Moon Spa," featuring Vichy showers, a hydrotherapy tub, a sauna, massage and therapy tables, tanning beds, and exercise equipment. The next major project was the restoration of the hotel’s skyline, which had been destroyed in the 1967 fire. This multi-million dollar project included the restoration of the 3,500 square-foot penthouse, the original center observation tower, and the 200-pound, 24-foot-tall Crescent Moon weathervane.

Simultaneously, the Roenigks oversaw the restoration of guest rooms, lounges, electrical and plumbing systems, and landscaping. On September 6, 2002, their ambitious goal was realized. After $5 million in renovations, the grand hotel had been fully restored to its original stately glory.

Today, The Haunted Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs is one of the most visited hotels in the South. With its long and colorful history, it is also renowned as one of the most haunted places in the Ozarks. Staff and guests alike share stories of numerous ghosts that are said to inhabit the old hotel.

The most frequently sighted apparition is a red-haired Irish stonemason, whom the staff has nicknamed "Michael." Michael is believed to have been one of the original masons who worked on the hotel’s construction in 1885. According to legend, he lost his balance while working on the roof, fell to the second floor, and died. This area now houses Room 218, which is considered the most haunted guestroom in the hotel. Michael is known as a mischievous spirit who enjoys playing tricks with the lights, doors, and television. Guests have reported hearing loud pounding on the walls, seeing hands emerging from the bathroom mirror, and hearing cries that sound like a man falling in the ceiling. One guest even claimed to have seen blood splattered all over the walls of the room.

Another frequently reported ghost is that of a nurse dressed in white. She is said to roam the third floor, pushing a gurney. She only appears after 11:00 p.m., the time when the deceased were moved out of Baker’s Cancer Hospital. The ghostly figure vanishes at the end of the hallway. Others have reported hearing squeaks and rattles that sound like a gurney rolling down the hall. The third floor was once used as the morgue and still contains "Dr." Baker’s old autopsy table and walk-in freezer. The laundry area is also located on the third floor, where a hotel maintenance man once witnessed all the washers and dryers inexplicably turning on by themselves in the middle of the night.

The apparition of "Dr. Baker" himself has been seen in the old Recreation Room in the basement and at the foot of the first-floor stairway. He is described as wearing a purple shirt and white linen suit and appearing somewhat confused, resembling old photographs of the infamous "quack."

For a time, the antique switchboard in the hotel continued to be used, but it was eventually discontinued after repeatedly receiving phone calls from the empty basement. It was in this basement that "Dr." Baker convinced his patients of his "miracle cures" and extracted their life savings for "treatment."

Another ghostly figure from the "hospital" days is a woman who identifies herself as "Theodora." She is most often seen by housekeepers in Room 419, where she politely introduces herself as a cancer patient before vanishing.

In the lobby, a gentleman dressed in formal Victorian clothing, complete with a top hat, has been spotted at the bottom of the stairway and sitting at the bar. Described as distinguished-looking with a mustache and beard, he has been approached by guests attempting to engage him in conversation. However, he sits quietly and never responds before suddenly disappearing.

The hotel’s Crystal Dining Room is another area known for frequent paranormal activity. Victorian-dressed apparitions have often been encountered here. Many have witnessed groups of 1890s dancers in full-dress attire whirling around the room in the early hours of the morning. Others have reported seeing a 19th-century gentleman sitting at a table near the windows, who says, "I saw the most beautiful woman here last night, and I am waiting for her to return."

A former waitress reported seeing the vision of a Victorian bride and groom in the dining room’s large mirror. The groom allegedly made eye contact with her before the couple faded away.

The Victorian spirits in the dining room are said to be playful. On one occasion during the Christmas season, the Christmas tree and all its packages were found mysteriously moved to the other side of the room, with all the chairs arranged in a circle or facing the transported tree. On another occasion, staff arrived in the morning to find the dining room in perfect order, except for all the menus scattered about the room.

In the dining room’s kitchen, the apparition of a small boy has been seen skipping around. Pots and pans are sometimes said to fly off the hooks of their own accord.

Another frequently reported spirit is that of a young woman who once attended the Crescent College and Conservatory for Young Women. According to legend, she either jumped or was pushed from a balcony to her death. Today, guests report hearing her screams as she falls.

Other apparitions have been sighted in Room 202 and Room 424, as well as a ghostly waiter carrying a tray of butter in the hallways.

Whether visitors come to The Haunted Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs hoping to catch a glimpse of its many spirits or to experience its rich history and luxurious accommodations, they are unlikely to be disappointed.

Today, the fully restored hotel offers an ambiance that transcends time while providing all the amenities that the modern-day traveler requires. Surrounded by 15 acres of formal gardens and nature trails, the hotel features 72 guest rooms, many with balconies, and 12 luxury suites. The New Moon Spa offers a full menu of treatments, a salon, and a wellness program.

Eureka Springs is located just eight miles south of the Missouri border in northwest Arkansas near Beaver Lake.